Northern Advocate Daily With which is incorporated the Northern Mail Daily. MONDAY, MAY 8, 1916. AMERICA AND GERMANY.

Northern Advocate, 8 May 1916, Page 2

Northern Advocate Daily With which is incorporated the Northern Mail Daily.

MONDAY, MAY 8, 1916. AMERICA AND GERMANY.

Registered for dismission through the post as a newspaper.

No official announcement has been published regarding the reception of the German Note at Washington, but th e 'prevailing impression is that no action will be taken by America. The tone of the representative press is distinctly hostile to Germany, and the Note has characterised as farcical and insulting. One leading New York journal says that if President Wilson fails on this occasion to act America will never forgive him. But it does not seem at all likely that the President will act in the way desired by those who resent the insolent disregard of American rights. A recent cable says that the State Denartment will probably accept German assurances in the meantime. Proposals in regard to the British blockade will be held in abeyance, and if Germany again disregards America's demands in regard'to merchant shipping diplomatic relations will be broken off forthwith. This statement of the position is very much what ' might hav e been 'expected, and once agaiu shows that the United, States Cabinet is prepared to suffer almost, any humiliation rather than break with a nation which has openly and joyfully espoused the cause of piracy. The salient features of the Note as cabled to New Zealand show, plainly that Germany has not given way in any particular whatever. In a previous reply to America it will be remembered that America was told that it' she wou7 keep ncr citizens from journeying in certain vessels Germany would not endanger their safety To this ircmafion President Wilson mai:? show of much righteous indignation affirming the right ol' American citizens t-j travel in safety wheresoever they chose. ft was a biave reply ar if i Germany answered it by sending torpedoes into several other vessels. Still the peaceful President turned the other cheek and. sent along another Note, as bravely-worded and --.s purposeless as ever. The answer is what might have been expected. 'The provision made on this last occasion is that Britain be stopped from enforcing a blockade. If President Wilson will lift the blockade Germany promises to blow up no more Americans. If th e blockade continues th" submarine will continue to send American citizens to the bottom of th e sea. Lf the world had not learnt to know President. Wilson and his Cabinet it might have been expected that such deliberate insolence would have been immediately resented, and satisfactory guarantees insisted upon. But knowing something of the American Government the public will not b e surprised that it has been decided to await another outrage before taking action. hi the face of this decision it may well be asked how many lives it will be necessary to sacrifice before the State Department considers action justified. As before remarked, there

is yet no official announcement of the j reception accorded the Note, but the j attitude outlined in the cables is entirely what might have been expected. President Wilson plainly either lacks i the power or courage to view the j piracy question with determination and courage. (